Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Techniques and Planting Management Methods for Chinese Plum (Wumei)

Biological Characteristics: The plum has strong adaptability and is cold-tolerant. It prefers a warm and humid climate and requires ample sunlight. Temperature during the flowering period greatly affects yield; temperatures below -5 to -6°C or above 20°C have a noticeable impact on fruit set rate. Areas with an annual average temperature of 16-23°C and annual average rainfall above 1000mm are most suitable for cultivation. It has low requirements for soil, but loose, fertile, deep sandy loam with good drainage is best. It is afraid of waterlogging and tolerant of drought, so low-lying and damp areas are not suitable for planting.

Cultivation Techniques: Propagation by seed, grafting, layering, and other methods.

Seed Propagation:After harvesting the fruit in June, take the seeds and sow them in autumn. Alternatively, store the seeds in sand over winter and sow them in spring from February to March of the following year. Because seed propagation does not easily maintain the characteristics of the original variety, it is only used for rootstock or breeding and selection purposes. Generally, grafting is the primary method of propagation.

Grafting:Use branch grafting or bud grafting, with rootstocks grown from seedlings of apricot, plum, or Chinese plum. Branch grafting should be done before spring budding, and bud grafting should be done from late August to early September. Choosing an overcast day is preferable, and rainy days must be avoided. After successful grafting, the plants are lifted from the nursery and planted out before spring budding the following year.

Field Management:After the plants survive transplanting, field management work such as intertillage and weeding, fertilization, irrigation, drainage, and pruning and training should be carried out. The amount of fertilizer applied varies depending on soil conditions, tree age, and growth vigor. Pre-flowering fertilizer and post-harvest fertilizer should mainly be quick-acting fertilizers. After leaf fall, the winter fertilizer should be applied heavily, mainly with organic fertilizers such as decomposed compost and barnyard manure, supplemented with phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizers. Pruning and training should focus on thinning and light pruning, requiring evenly distributed branches. In winter, remove water sprouts and retain short fruit branches. In late spring and early summer, perform bud removal and pinching to accelerate canopy formation.